Compared: Apple 2022 iPhone SE vs Google Pixel 6a | AppleInsider

Revealed during Google I/O, the Google Pixel 6a is a smartphone that’s comparable in idea to the iPhone SE by way of ethos. To supply shoppers with a smartphone that provides the efficiency of flagship smartphone fashions however with cut-down specs and dimension to convey it all the way down to a extra wallet-friendly worth.

This can be a follow that each Apple and Google have adopted for his or her strains, with the third-generation iPhone SE up to date in 2022 to incorporate 5G connectivity, amongst different alterations. The Pixel 6a carries over from the Pixel 5a, with this yr’s model together with a change within the chip as its primary improve.

Although each are in the identical worth and idea ballpark, every firm’s smartphone choices differ considerably.

The Pixel 6a has an up to date look that departs from the nook digital camera bump of the 5a in favor of a digital camera bar. This brings it nearer in design to the Pixel 6, quite than seemingly aping Apple’s design selections.

To construct with a low worth in thoughts, Google has to make some adjustments from the Pixel 6 to save lots of value. It is received a Gorilla Glass entrance and an aluminum body, however the again is constructed from plastic.

For the iPhone SE, Apple manages to make use of each a glass entrance and glass again, together with the aluminum body.

Google has three shade choices for the Pixel 6a.

The entrance of the Pixel 6a is fairly clear and trendy, with an edge-to-edge show punctuated by a hole-punch digital camera close to the highest. The iPhone SE, sticking to its pretty conventional design, has its display screen taking over far much less of the entrance however nonetheless retains a bodily Dwelling button on the chin.

On which is the higher machine for folks with weight and dimension considerations, the iPhone SE wins right here. Its 5.45 inches by 2.65 inches footprint is far smaller than the 6-by-2.8-inch Pixel 6a, with the iPhone additionally thinner at 0.29 inches versus 0.35 inches.

The dimensions distinction additionally interprets right into a lighter Apple machine, with the iPhone SE weighing in at 5.09 ounces towards 6.3 ounces for the Pixel 6a.

The noticeable huge distinction between the 2 smartphones is the show, with Google going for a full-screen expertise whereas Apple retains to a extra conventional method with a outstanding chin. That is partially an aesthetic alternative for Apple and allows it to maintain utilizing the bodily Dwelling button on the entrance.

This implies Apple has a a lot smaller 4.7-inch Retina HD show, whereas Google can go for a a lot bigger 6.1-inch display screen.

This additionally falls right into a win column tick for Google concerning decision. Apple provides 1,344 by 750 pixels, with a pixel density of 326ppi, however Google makes use of a 2,040 by 1,080 display screen, giving it a density of 429ppi.

The Google Pixel 6a makes use of an OLED display screen, full with hole-punch digital camera.

Google additionally wins out on know-how with its use of an OLED display screen as a substitute of an LCD panel, as used within the iPhone SE. You get a 1,000,000:1 distinction ratio, 24-bit depth and 16 million colours, and HDR help.

That display screen can also be an always-on show, full with Google’s “At a Look” and “Now Enjoying” options to offer customers the information they want shortly.

The iPhone SE has a way more modest distinction ratio of 1,400:1, although it does have True Tone and Huge Colour (P3) help. The 625 nits of brightness from the iPhone SE’s display screen is satisfactory however in all probability would not match the Pixel 6a’s peak brightness from utilizing OLED, although Google would not say what that stage is.

Contained in the iPhone SE is an A15 Bionic, Apple’s chip utilized by the iPhone 13 household of gadgets. Meaning it has a hexa-core chip with two high-performance cores and 4 effectivity cores and a quad-core Apple-designed GPU, a fifth-generation Neural Engine, a superb picture sign processor, and 4GB of reminiscence.

Whereas Google went for a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip within the Pixel 5a, it has joined Apple in utilizing its top-tier chip alternative from the flagship within the value-oriented launch.

This time, Google has gone for its chip design, the Tensor SoC. This chip has two high-performance cores, two mid cores, and 4 high-efficiency cores, enabling it to be extra discerning on what cores it makes use of relying on the duty.

The Google Pixel 6a makes use of Google’s self-designed Tensor chip.

Together with that could be a 20-core GPU and the Tensor Processing Unit, or Google’s equal of the Neural Engine. The TPU is used to carry out machine studying duties in the identical approach to help with issues like on-device digital assistant processing or computational pictures.

Aiding the Tensor chip is 6 gigabytes of reminiscence. This can be a lot greater than the 4GB within the iPhone SE, however it will likely be extra helpful for working a number of heavy-duty apps quite than as a purely performance-improving factor.

As to which performs higher, we flip to Geekbench’s outcomes browser because the similar Tensor chip is used within the Pixel 6.

In accordance with the single-core benchmark, Tensor manages a rating of 1,001 towards 1,686 for the A15 Bionic. On multi-core assessments, the Pixel 6 will get to 2,740, whereas the A15 will get to 4,499.

These outcomes do lean in Apple’s favor however keep in mind that we’re speaking a few benchmark device that, whereas cross-platform, can nonetheless doubtlessly differ between working programs.

You are getting a smartphone that may greater than deal with most duties a consumer might current it in both case.

When Apple launched the third-gen iPhone SE, it did so by celebrating its 5G connectivity. That was technically true, because it did work with sub-6GHz 5G networks, nevertheless it did not embody the mmWave help that enabled the widely-advertised high-speed factor of 5G itself.

It is the identical story for the Pixel 6a. Whilst you might get a 5G Pixel 6 with mmWave help, you are restricted to sub-6GHz bands for the Pixel 6a.

Each nonetheless provide LTE help for areas the place 5G has but to roll out, together with 3G for extra rural and underserved areas. Twin-SIM help can also be obtainable for every machine.

If in case you have Wi-Fi 6E, the Google Pixel 6a helps it.

On extra localized connectivity, Google has pushed ahead with enhancing the networking capabilities, with it capable of entry Wi-Fi 6E networks versus Wi-Fi 6 help for the iPhone. Bluetooth can also be higher on the Pixel with Bluetooth 5.2 towards 5.0.

It relies upon extra on whether or not you’ve sufficiently appropriate gadgets in your house or work.

There’s NFC help for each, however with the standard limitations. NFC on Android is extra accessible to apps, so it has a big selection of makes use of. Apple’s NFC entry is far more restricted, however since it’s mainly used to facilitate Apple Pay, it isn’t a large drawback.

For bodily connections, Apple depends on Lightning, whereas Google makes use of USB-C.

Apple features a single 12-megapixel ultra-wide digital camera on the again of the iPhone SE. It has an f/1.8 aperture, optical picture stabilization, a 5x digital zoom, and a True Tone flash, with autofocus utilizing Focus Pixels.

Aiding it’s Apple’s Deep Fusion computational pictures options, which embody improved picture sign processing, Good HDR 4 help, Photographic Kinds, and a smattering of Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting results.

On the entrance is a 7-megapixel digital camera with an f/2.2 aperture, which advantages equally from computational pictures enhancements.

Google consists of two rear cameras on the Pixel 6a, with a 12.2-megapixel twin pixel vast digital camera with an f/1.7 aperture joined by a 12-megapixel ultra-wide model. The previous advantages from a sizeable 1/2.55-inch picture sensor dimension and a “Tremendous Res Zoom” of as much as 7x.

Each additionally embody optical and digital picture stabilization.

Very like Apple, Google has been engaged on its computational pictures options, together with parts akin to Magic Eraser to take away gadgets from a picture, Face Unblur, Portrait Mode and Portrait Gentle, and Movement Autofocus.

On the entrance of the Pixel 6a is an 8-megapixel f/2 fastened focus digital camera.

There are two cameras on the again of the Pixel 6a, versus one on the iPhone SE.

On video capabilities, each smartphones can handle 4K 60fps recording and 1080p 240fps slo-mo.

Apple consists of video options together with optical picture stabilization, a 3x digital zoom, QuickTake video, time-lapse video full with an evening mode, cinematic video stabilization, and stereo recording.

Google’s Pixel 6a boasts stabilized time-lapse video, astrophotography time-lapse, OIS, “Fused Video Stabilization,” a 4K “Cinematic Pan” stabilization function, 5x digital zoom, stereo recording, and speech enhancement with wind noise discount.

Apple claims its third-gen iPhone SE has sufficient energy to final for as much as 15 hours of video playback, as much as 10 if streamed, and as much as 50 hours of audio playback.

Google’s use of a 4,410mAh battery permits it to boast “over 24 hours of battery life.” In accordance with the corporate, that’s primarily based on a “mixture of discuss, standby, and use of different options,” with 29 hours present in testing.

It is not a like-for-like comparability, however the takeaway is that the Pixel 6a has respectable battery life.

What’s extra, Google additionally consists of an Excessive Battery Saver mode, which disables options like 5G in favor of prolonging battery life. This can lead to as much as 72 hours of utilization, however your mileage will differ relying on how you utilize the machine.

Each gadgets embody quick charging capabilities, with the iPhone SE taking half-hour to get to 50% cost utilizing a 20W adapter and the Lightning port. Google would not say how good its quick cost is, however it could possibly cost at as much as 18W and is appropriate with USB PD 3.0 PPS chargers.

On wi-fi charging, the iPhone SE does embody help for Qi-compatible charging factors, although not full-fat MagSafe help. Google did not embody wi-fi charging in its smartphone.

Apple consists of stereo playback help for the iPhone SE and options akin to Spatial Audio for appropriate {hardware}. The Pixel 6a offers stereo audio system, and with Android 13, it should embody its reply for Spatial Audio.

Neither machine features a headphone jack, leaving customers to make use of adapters or Bluetooth for his or her private audio wants. This can be a little bit of a step again for Google, which took time from the 5a launch to poke fun at Apple with a promotional video highlighting its headphone jack inclusion.

There’s an under-display fingerprint reader included within the Google Pixel 6a.

Each smartphones use fingerprint sensors however in numerous methods. Whereas Apple makes use of a extra apparent Dwelling button and Contact ID, the Pixel 6a makes use of an under-display fingerprint sensor.

Apple sells the third-generation iPhone in three capacities: 64GB for $429, 128GB for $479, and 256GB for $579.

Google provides just one capability possibility for the Pixel 6a at launch, with its 128GB mannequin priced at $449.

Each corporations additionally present a alternative of three shade choices.

Apple goes for Midnight, Starlight, and (Product)Purple, whereas Google opts for Sage, Chalk, and Charcoal. You get a black/gray possibility and a white-ish variant in every product line, although whereas Apple goes for purple, Google’s Sage goes for mild inexperienced.

Within the iPhone SE and the Pixel 6a, each Apple and Google purpose to money in on the worth finish of the smartphone market. Every provides what’s successfully the high-performance core of its premium releases, however strategically kneecaps different parts to maintain the worth at an inexpensive stage.

There are nonetheless fairly a number of important variations in what every provides to the buyer, past merely iPhone and Android.

A number of this goes Google’s manner, with the usage of a big and high-resolution OLED show far outclassing the iPhone SE’s extra restricted providing.

Then there are the cameras, with Google providing two rear cameras to the solitary shooter on the again of the iPhone SE. Each corporations have a deep fascination with computational pictures, so whereas that factor could also be comparable, having an additional digital camera is undoubtedly in Google’s favor.

It is onerous to not just like the Google Pixel 6a at its low worth.

It might be extra apt to place the Google Pixel 6a towards the iPhone 13 mini, which has the higher show and twin cameras on the again. At $699 for the lowest-priced possibility, that places the worth in Google’s favor.

So, with an older show know-how and one rear digital camera, what doe the iPhone SE provide that Google would not? A smaller and lighter machine and the status of the Apple ecosystem and of being an iPhone.

Google’s choices will all the time be similar to Apple’s equivalents in numerous central methods. Nevertheless, it is all the time going to be an Android machine, which could be a turnoff for some smartphone customers.

Anybody who fancies getting an iPhone will most definitely go for the iPhone SE over the Pixel 6a just because they are going to need an iPhone.

To Apple, the Pixel 6a reveals that the search big can nonetheless provide {hardware} that competes, or typically outclasses, its iPhone choices. It might be Android-based, however Apple definitely has competitors, even on the worth finish of the worth spectrum.

Google shall be releasing its Pixel 6a on July 28, with it to go on sale in the USA, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Eire, Italy, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, and the UK.

Preorders for the Pixel 6a will begin from July 21, by way of Google’s online store.